First published 1964
Kennedy traces the evolution of England's taxation system from the Civil War through the Napoleonic era. The author analyzes how financial pressures from military conflicts, colonial expansion, and domestic governance shaped tax policy across 159 years. Kennedy examines the shift from feudal levies to modern fiscal instruments, showing how Parliament and the Crown negotiated revenue needs against popular resistance. The study covers major tax innovations including the window tax, stamp duties, and early income taxes. Kennedy demonstrates how taxation debates reflected broader struggles over political authority and economic theory. The book offers readers a detailed view of how England built the fiscal foundation that would support its rise as a global power.
Genres: history, non-fiction, 19th-century, accounting, academic, american-history
Vibes: analytical, detailed, thought-provoking
Tropes: historical-non-fiction
Setting: England
Period: 1640-1799
212 pages · Hardcover · Routledge